Portulaca plant named ‘DPAZ17’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Portulaca  cultivar named ‘DPAZ17’ is disclosed, characterized by large white flowers. The new variety has a compact, semi trailing growth habit and forms a dense plant. Flowers distinctively open early in the morning, and remain open into the evening hours. The new variety is a  Portulaca , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Portulaca oleracea.

Variety denomination: ‘DPAZ17’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Portulaca cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Portulaca varieties for ornamental commercial applications. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during September 2008.

The seed parent is the unpatented, proprietary seedling variety referred to as Portulaca oleracea ‘PT-8-425’ The pollen parent is unknown, as the crossing resulting in ‘DPAZ17’ was an open pollination, with unidentifiable pollen parents. The new variety was discovered in July 2009 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2008 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DPAZ17’ by vegetative cuttings was first performed at a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel in July 2009 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DPAZ17’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DPAZ17’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DPAZ17’ as a new and distinct Portulaca cultivar:

-   -   1. Large flowers     -   2. Compact and dense semi trailing habit     -   3. Flowers open early in the morning and stay open for more         hours     -   4. Low, spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DPAZ17’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, Portulaca oleracea ‘PT-8-425’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DPAZ17’ have a more compact plant habit, and larger flowers. Additionally, the new cultivar has flowers that stay open for more hours than the seed parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DPAZ17’ are comparable to the commercial variety Portulaca ‘Summer Stars White’, patent status unknown to the inventor after reasonable search. These Portulaca varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics, including flower color and flower form. The new variety ‘DPAZ17’ differs in having larger flowers, that stay open more hours during the day. Additionally, ‘DPAZ17’ has a different angle of attachment of the flowers and a more compact and dense plant habit than ‘Summer Stars White’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DPAZ17’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 13 cm basket. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 85 days from a rooted cutting.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close up of a typical bloom of ‘DPAZ17’. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DPAZ17’ plants grown in a greenhouse during Spring in Gilroy, Calif. The growing temperature ranged from 14° C. to 30° C. during the day and from 10° C. to 23° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Portulaca oleracea ‘DPAZ17’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: 10 to 14 days at approximately 18-21° C. -   Root description: Fibrous, spreading and dense.

PLANT

-   Age of the plant described: 80 days. -   Growth habit: Compact, semi-trailing. -   Pot size of plant described: 13 cm. -   Height: 15-20 cm. -   Plant spread: 35 cm. -   Growth rate: Medium vigor. -   Branching characteristics: Freely basal branching. Tight, compact,     dense plant with lateral branches from each leaf axil. -   Length of primary lateral branches: About 27 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: About 0.3 cm. -   Quantity of primary lateral branches: About 8. -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:     -   -   Form.—Rounded, fleshy with ridges, horizontal.         -   Diameter.—About 0.5 cm.         -   Color.—RHS Green 143C.         -   Texture.—Succulent — smooth, glabrous.         -   Strength.—Moderate. -   Internode length: About 2 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Quantity.—About 12 per main branch.         -   Average length.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Average width.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Most of them are obovate shape (mature             leaves) and parts are elliptic (young leaves).         -   Apex.—Most mature leaves are rounded, young leaves acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous, smooth.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Attachment angle.—At right angle or obtuse angle to stem.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B.             Young foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B 146C.             Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137C. Mature             foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B 147C.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS             Green 137C. Venation color under side: Approximately RHS             Yellow-Green 147C. Venation color is indistinguishable from             foliage.         -   Petiole.—Length: 0.15 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Color: Near RHS             Green 143C. Texture: Smooth, Glabrous.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: From Spring to Autumn. -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: Approximately 8 weeks. -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Terminal, single, sessile.     Flower habit horizontal. -   Rate of flower opening: 7 to 10 days from bud to fully opened     flower. -   Flower longevity on plant: Approximately 1 day. -   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-Cleaning. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Ovate with a pointed tip.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. -   Flower size:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 5.2 cm. -   Corolla/petals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Single flower with five distinct overlapping             petals.         -   Length.—Approximately 2.3 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 2 cm.         -   Quantity.—5 petals.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Apex.—Emarginate.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Margin.—Sinuate.         -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS White N155B.             Lower surface: Near RHS White 155B. Fully opened: Upper             surface: Near RHS White N155A. Lower surface: Near RHS White             N155A. -   Calyx/sepals:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—2.         -   Shape.—Deltoid.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.85 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.8 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—Upper and Lower Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. -   Peduncle: None. -   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—About 90.         -   Filament length.—Approximately 0.5 cm. -   Anthers: Shape: Oval, bilobed. Length: Approximately 0.5 mm. Color:     Near RHS Yellow 13B. Pollen: Color: Near RHSYellow-Orange 23A.     Quantity: Abundant. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1 per flower.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.3 cm.         -   Style.—Length: Approximately 1 cm. Color: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 145C.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Six-branched. Color: Near RHS White 155A and             the center near RHS Yellow-Green 145C. Ovary Color: Near RHS             Yellow-Green145B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Fruits are egg-shaped 4-5 mm long with a conical     shape top. Seeds are glossy black with a circular shape. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or insects has been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Will not tolerate temperatures below 7° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Portulaca plant named ‘DPAZ17’ as herein illustrated and described. 